title: Challenges of managing toxic alcohol poisoning in a resource-limited setting.
abstract: We present a series of patients with profound metabolic acidosis admitted to the Role 3 Medical Treatment Facility, Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, in 2012. A police service breath alcohol analyser, calculation of the osmolar gap and urine microscopy assisted in diagnosing methanol poisoning. The challenge of diagnosing and managing toxic alcohol poisoning in this resource-limited setting is discussed. We believe this is the first description of using a breath alcohol analyser to assist a diagnosis of methanol poisoning.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, Devon, UK.
authors.forename: Ed
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barnard
authors.affiliation: Department of Military Medicine, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baladurai
authors.affiliation: Department of Military Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Badh
authors.affiliation: Department of Military Medicine, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nicol
mesh_terms: D000138:Acidosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000346:Afghanistan; D001944:Breath Tests; D003906:Developing Countries; D004348:Drug Labeling; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000432:Methanol / Q000506:poisoning*; D012997:Solvents / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D012997:Solvents; D000432:Methanol
keywords: Accident & Emergency medicine; Toxicology